Autophagy may play an important role in varicocele

• DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7253
• Publication Date: 2017-08-16T07:01:21Z
• Authors: Shao-Ming Zhu; Ting Rao; Xiao Yang; Jin-Zhuo Ning; Wei-Ming Yu; Yuan Ruan; Run Yuan; Cheng-Long Li; Kun Jiang; Wei Hu; Hao-Yong Li; Fan Cheng
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Apoptosis; Articles; Seminiferous Tubules; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Rats; 3. Good health; Disease Models, Animal; 03 medical and health sciences; Seminiferous Epithelium; Varicocele; Autophagy; Animals; Biomarkers

The present study aimed to determine the expression of autophagy and investigate whether hypoxia‑inducible factor 1α (HIF‑1α)/BCL2 interacting protein (BNIP3)/Beclin‑1 signaling pathway serves an important role in activating varicocele (VC) rat testes cells. Furthermore, current explain possible association between apoptosis. A total 48 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into group (control), B (VC 15‑day), C 30‑day) D 45‑day), with 12 each group. did not receive any interventions, groups B, C, VC model was established simultaneously. At 0, 15, 30, 45 days, orchidectomy on left performed A‑D, its respective day. Transmission electron microscopy used autophagy. Compared it demonstrated that significantly increased. Hematoxylin eosin staining revealed as survived longer, testicular tissue damage became more serious. Johnson score impaired spermeiogenesis function rats. Additionally, apoptosis index semini­ferous epithelia cells increased over time, measured using TUNEL staining. Immunohistochemical analysis prolonged, HIF‑1α gradually while (apoptosis regulator Bcl‑2) Bcl‑2 decreased. western blot decreased Bax HIF‑1α, BNIP3, Beclin1 microtubule associated 1 light chain 3 α (LC3)II/LC3I However, significant increases Beclin LC3II/LC3I only observed day 0 30 groups. In addition, p62 but 15 45. results can lead hypoxia, HIF‑1α/BNIP3/Beclin1 may upregulate testes. Thus, serve infertility caused by VC.